Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for May 2024
10 May 2024 11:41 am | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
With summer maintenance work finishing, crews are switching to winter maintenance mode, making sure the network is safe over the colder, wetter months.
With summer maintenance work finishing, crews are switching to winter maintenance mode, making sure the network is safe over the colder, wetter months.
With temperatures dropping this week, the focus starts to turn to routine maintenance activities and responding to issues that appear over time, especially during and after weather events. This can include road closures due to slips, flooding or other factors, says Roger Brady, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations, Waikato Bay of Plenty.
“While most of the Waikato and Bay of Plenty doesn’t experience heavy snow, we do get heavy frosts. Frosts tend to be more severe at daybreak, so be prepared for this. Take care in shaded areas where roads freeze sooner, and ice may not thaw during the day. Bridges may also stay slippery for longer than other road surfaces, so slow down when crossing them,” says Mr Brady.
Next week, on the State Highway 29 Kaimai Range a series of overnight road closures have been scheduled, allowing contractors to deliver essential maintenance in a more effective manner.
“This is a new way of working in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region. The next full closure is taking place from Sunday 19 May through to Wednesday 22 May from 8pm to 3.30am,” says Mr Brady.
“Previously we have accommodated vehicles when working on this corridor. Closing the road gives us better outcomes; we can finish the work quicker and improve safety for both crews on site and road users.”
Waikato and Bay of Plenty state highway works for May 2024 [PDF, 209 KB]
Western Bay of Plenty
SH2 Waihī to Ōmokoroa: Roundabout construction at Sharp Road is underway with significant activities including nighttime stop/go for asphalt works. There will also be daytime intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays. In Athenree Gorge (north of Katikati) 3.8km of flexible median barrier is being installed, due to be complete by the end of May. There will be lane shifts in place with speed restrictions and intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause some delays. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes. Service relocations are underway between Lund Road and Wright Road, shoulder closures are in place with daytime speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays. Please follow the temporary signs and directions of the traffic management team and watch for layout changes.
SH2 Apata Curves: Road widening works underway. Contra flow in place with speed restrictions. There will be intermittent stop/go traffic management in place which may cause longer delays.
SH2 Ōmokoroa Road: Shoulder closures and speed reductions are in place near the SH2/Ōmokoroa Road intersection as early works take place ahead of the Ōmokoroa roundabout project.
SH29 Kaimai Range: The Kaimai Range will be closed overnight from Sunday 19 May to Wednesday 22 May, from 8pm to 3.30am to allow road resurfacing and maintenance to take place. The closure points on the western side of the Kaimai Range are at the SH29/24 and SH29/28 intersections and on the eastern side of the Kaimai Range at the SH29/Cambridge Road intersection. Detours are available for all vehicles southbound via Rotorua and northbound via the Karangahake Gorge. Emergency services will have access at all times, residents can access their property from the relevant side of the closure.